Crime
Texas Teachers Trena Henshaw and Sydney Madill Caught on Video Injuring 5-Year-Old Autistic Boy
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — Two elementary school teachers have been terminated after surveillance footage surfaced showing them physically assaulting a 5-year-old nonverbal autistic student at Wild Peach Elementary School in Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District.
The educators, identified as Trena Henshaw and Sydney Madill, were captured on camera during two separate incidents on October 30.
According to school officials, both have since been fired, but the child’s mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, says termination is not enough — she is demanding full criminal accountability.
Surveillance video from the classroom reportedly shows one teacher violently slamming the boy to the floor.
Less than an hour earlier, another clip appears to show the same teacher dropping him.
A separate video later in the day shows a different teacher kicking the child’s injured ankle while attempting to force him to walk, despite visible signs of pain.
Rodriguez described the experience of watching the footage as “devastating,” saying her son’s disability made the abuse even more disturbing.
“This is trauma that my son and I will carry forever,” Rodriguez said. “I dropped to my knees and cried. I never expected to see my son treated that way.”
She noticed something was wrong when her son returned home limping that afternoon. Concerned, she immediately took him to urgent care, where doctors diagnosed him with a fractured and sprained ankle.
Rodriguez returned to the school the next day demanding answers. When the principal allowed her to review surveillance footage, she discovered multiple incidents showing her son being mistreated and ignored.
“My son was showing signs of distress, and not one teacher stopped to check on him,” she said. “Nobody cared.”
In a letter to parents, Wild Peach Elementary’s principal confirmed that the incident had been reported to both the Texas Education Agency and the Columbia-Brazoria ISD Police Department, which has referred the case to the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Although both teachers have been terminated, Rodriguez says that isn’t enough.
“Part of me is relieved, but I’m not satisfied,” she said. “They’re still walking free.”
Her son has not returned to Wild Peach Elementary since the incident, and Rodriguez says she is now consulting with attorneys to explore legal action.
The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office has not yet confirmed whether criminal charges will be filed.
Crime
Walls Police Officer Da’Quarius Burton Injured in Deadly Mississippi Crash, Mother Confirms He Is Alive and Safe
DESOTO COUNTY, Mississippi — Walls Police Officer Da’Quarius Burton was injured in a deadly two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 61 in DeSoto County, Mississippi, but his mother has confirmed that he is alive, safe and recovering following the crash.
Burton, 27, of Memphis, Tennessee, was driving a Dodge Durango involved in the collision shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls.
The crash claimed the lives of three people traveling in a Honda Accord. The incident also left another passenger injured and involved employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detention Center.
Following the crash, misinformation circulated online suggesting that Burton had died and that he was a juvenile detention officer.
His mother, Tee Burton, publicly addressed the reports, firmly correcting the information and asking people to stop sharing unverified claims.
She confirmed that her son is alive, safe and okay. She also emphasized that he is not a juvenile detention officer.
In her statement, she expressed disappointment over reports falsely identifying her son as one of the people who died in the collision.
She also acknowledged the families who lost loved ones and urged the public to show compassion toward everyone affected by the tragedy.
Her statement included the following message:
“My son is alive!!! He is safe, and he is okay!!!”
She further asked people to verify information before publishing or reposting details that could cause unnecessary emotional distress to families.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a northbound Dodge Durango traveling on U.S. Highway 61 collided with a westbound Honda Accord traveling on Church Road.
Three occupants of the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the victims as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake, Mississippi, the Honda driver.
- Eddie L. Dodson Jr., 41, of Byhalia, Mississippi.
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake, Mississippi.
Burton and another passenger in the Honda survived the collision but sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Their specific medical conditions have not been publicly detailed in the information provided.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two people involved in the crash were employees of its Juvenile Detention Center.
One of those employees was Tamenshia R. Ford, who died in the collision. The second employee was seriously injured.
Sheriff Thomas E. Tuggle II expressed condolences following the death of the employee, describing the person as a respected and beloved member of the department.
“Our fallen officer was a respected and beloved member of our team,” Tuggle said.
The sheriff’s office also recognized the employee’s dedication, compassion and commitment to working with young people entrusted to the facility’s care.
State officials confirmed that the Dodge Durango involved in the collision belonged to the Walls Police Department.
The city’s mayor and police chief also confirmed that a Walls police officer was involved in the crash. Burton’s mother has since clarified that her son is the officer and that he survived.
An SUV displaying Walls Police Department identification was seen being towed from the crash scene Wednesday night.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal collision.
Investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the vehicles colliding.
The crash resulted in three deaths and left multiple people injured. Burton’s family has asked the public to respect the victims and their loved ones while avoiding the spread of false information.
The investigation remains ongoing.